In the face of growing environmental concerns, the presence of pharmaceutical substances in aquatic environments has emerged as a significant challenge. These contaminants, inadequately filtered out by current wastewater treatment systems, pose substantial threats to both ecosystem health and human welfare. As they seep into water bodies, these pharmaceuticals can disrupt aquatic life’s normal functioning and potentially contaminate drinking water sources. The need for improved wastewater treatment methods or additional measures to mitigate the pharmaceutical substances’ environmental impact is now more pressing than ever.
Marine Pollution: A Threat to Ecosystem and Human Health
The conservation and sustainable usage of oceans and marine resources have become a pivotal discussion. The threats of marine pollution, ocean acidification, overfishing, and climate change’s impacts underscore the need for effective management and international cooperation. Protecting vulnerable habitats andensuring a sustainable future for the fishing industry is paramount. Interestingly, marine species hold the potential for scientific discovery and pharmaceuticals, further emphasizing the importance of marine conservation.
Exploring Advanced Oxidation Process Technology
The threat pharmaceutical substances pose to aquatic environments and human health is undeniable. One proposed solution is the utilization of biochar modified by Iron (Fe) and Manganese (Mn) to activate peroxymonosulfate, degrading carbamazepine in water. The potential of Advanced Oxidation Process (AOPs) technology in removing organic pollutants in aquatic environments is also being explored. Fe and Mn co-doped biochar catalysts show improved properties and promise in peroxymonosulfate activation and carbamazepine degradation.
Lithium in Drinking Water: An Unregulated Threat
A recent study discovered that lithium concentrations in the United States’ drinking water supplies are unregulated. Despite being included in te 2022 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency list of unregulated contaminants for monitoring, there’s no regulatory action. A model was developed to estimate geogenic lithium in drinking water supply wells throughout the conterminous United States and predict the probability of lithium in different concentration classifications. This model is a step towards understanding the dose response to low concentrations of lithium.
Emerging Solutions: From Graphene Oxide to Deep Eutectic Solvents
As pollution of soil and aquatic systems by inorganic and organic chemicals persists, potential solutions are being explored. The use of graphene oxide modified titanium dioxide for the photocatalytic degradation of levofloxacin in aquatic environments is one such promising approach. Another viable alternative is Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) for extracting pollutants from water. These innovative methods offer a beacon of hope in the pursuit of environmental sustainability and public health protection.
